Fabric hanging and pleating bracket

ABSTRACT

A sectional bracket for hanging drapery or other wall covering fabric has an elongated holding bar formed with retention slots to hold a plurality of separable hanger units shaped to assist in forming pleats. The hanger units may be selectively positioned in some or all of the retention slots, depending upon the regular or irregular spacing desired for the pleats. The top edge of the holding bar has prongs and the top edges of the hanger units have spikes to pierce the fabric margin and assist in supporting the fabric in place.

United States Patent [191 Sperling 1 1 FABRIC HANGING AND PLEATING BRACKET [76] Inventor: Phillip Sperling, 3206 Coolidge Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90066 22 Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 325,831

' 160/383, 160/404, 248/224 [51] Int. Cl. A47h 23/00, A47h 13/14 [58] Field of Search 160/327, 328, 383,

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,185,207 5/1965 Humble 160/327 X Jan. 15, 1974 2/1967 Goldstein 160/327 8/1972 Eichenlaub ..160/327 Primary Examiner-Mervin Stein Assistant ExaminerPl 1ilip C. Kannan Att0meyPastoriza & Kelly [5 7] ABSTRACT A sectional bracket for hanging drapery or other wall covering fabric has an elongated holding bar formed with retention slots to hold a plurality of separable hanger units shaped to assist in forming pleats. The hanger units may be selectively positioned in some or all of the retention slots, depending upon the regular or irregular spacing desired for the pleats. The top edge of the holding bar has prongs and the top edges of the hanger units have spikes to pierce the fabric margin and assist in supporting the fabric in place.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBJAN 1 51914 SHEEI 1 [If 2 I FABRIC HANGING AND PLEATING BRACKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 equally spaced intervals along its length to constitute pleat-forming bends. When a drapery or other fabric is pressed over the pleat-forming bends and secured in some manner to the strip then the pleats will be created and sustained to present an attractive covering. The

' fabric may be attached to a metal holding strip by way of pinching or gripping elements as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,242,355 to Harris (1941 by wedges as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 631,401 to Kuhnel et al. (1899) or by sharp prongs or projections as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,238,891 to Cohen et al. (1941), U.S. Pat. No. 2,557,578 to Stallone (1951) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,207 to Humble (1965).

These above-mentioned typesof fabric hanging brackets have pleat-forming bends that are fixed in position so that the pleat spacing has a pre-determined pattern and is not adjustable. Moreover, they are generally bulky and occupy excessive space for shipping and storage purposes.

As shall be more fully explained, the fabric holding and pleating bracket of this invention overcomes a number of the above-mentioned drawbacks by reason of a unique and very different construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, this invention is a fabric hanging and pleating bracket that can be easily installed and disassembled, is capable of being shipped and stored in a relatively compact space and is adjustable to create a broad variety of pleating patterns.

In its broader aspect, the bracket includes an elongated holding bar having a lower strip with a bottom edge, an upper strip with a top edge offset outwardly and forwardly from the lower strip and an intermediate strip that interlinks the lower and upper strips. A plurality of prongs extend upwardly from the top edge of the upper strip for piercing and supporting fabric. A pair of adjacent prongs are spaced by a fixed distance. At least-one separable hanger unit is removably coupled to and aligned to project outwardly and forwardly from the holding bar at a position between said pair of adjacent prongs. The hanger unit has a front wall shaped-to assist in forming a fabric pleat. A spike extends upwardly from the top edge of the hanger unit for likewise piercing and supporting fabric. When the fabric is laid generally over the holding bar and hanger unit and is drawn over the prongs and spike then a section of the fabric will be formed into a pleat.

The hanger unit may be formed with at least one depending support hook looped over the top edge of the upper strip and into a retention slot of the intermediate strip that is sized to receive at least a portion of the hook.

Preferably the hanger unit has a pair of side walls joined together by the pleat-forming front wall and a pair of depending support hooks is formed generally by the upper rearward portion of the side walls. The holding bar intermediate strip includes a pair of retention slots generally between said pair of adjacent prongs and which are sized to receive corresponding support hooks. A pair of rearwardly extending shoulders is formed by the generally lower rearward portions of the hanger unit side walls and are sized to engage the holding bar lower strip for stability purposes.

The holding bar upper strip is formed with a recess between said pair of adjacent prongs for receiving and generally positioning the hanger unit. A forwardly extending tab secured to the upper strip just beneath the recess is positioned between the hanger unit side walls. A pair of locking slits defined by the support hooks are slipped over and interlocked with a section of the hanger unit lower strip beneath the tab. The depths of the locking slits are sized so that when the slits are in ther interlocking positions, then the holding bar top edge and hanger unit top edge will be at approximately the same level to form improved pleats.

The hanger unit side walls and front wall form a central space into which fabric margin material may be tucked and concealed for improved appearance purposes. Similarly, the holding bar intermediate strip, together with the upper strip, form a channel shaped space into which fabric margin material may be tucked and concealed for improved appearance purposes.

Opposite margins of the fabric may be secured to a pair of brackets that are parallel and vertically spaced. Preferably at least some of the-prongs and spikes are bent inwardly to assist in better supporting the fabric.

By reason of having multiple separable hanger units that can be selectively clipped to a common elongated bar, the hanger units can be positioned in 'a broad variety of arrays to create different pleating patterns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The numerous benefits and unique aspects of this invention willbe fully understood when the detailed description is studied in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fabric hanging and pleating bracket constructed in accordance with this invention, illustrating a strip of fabric in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, sectional, exploded view, showing the primary components of the bracket prior to installation against a wall;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational and cross-sectional view taken transversely through the bracket, showing the bracket components interfitted for holding fabric;

FIG. 4 is generally a rear, perspective view showing a bracket fully assembled and installed against a wall to hold fabric formed with pleats; and,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the general orientation of an upper bracket and a parallel lower bracket arranged to mount andhold a fabric therebetween in a desired pleating pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF. THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now primarily to FIG. 1 a fabric hanging and pleating bracket 10 is shown generally oriented for installation against the wall of a large room for example. The bracket 10 includes an elongated holding bar 11 integrally formed from a bent sheet of metal. A number of brackets would be arranged in side by side relationship to span across a pre-deterrnined wall distance. The holding bar 11 has an irregular cross section and includes a lower strip 12 with a bottom edge 13 an upper strip 14 with a top edge 15 and an intermediate strip 18 that links together lower strip 12 and upper strip 14. An inner edge 19 of intermediate strip 18 merges with lower strip 12 and an outer edge 20 of intermediate 18 merges with upper strip 14. A number of longitudinally spaced fastener holes 22 are formed through lower strip 12.

Formed within upper strip 14 and along the bracket top edge 15 is a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses 24 of general rectangular shape. The recesses 24 are constituted by a plurality of corresponding segments that are cut to shape and bent forwardly and outwardly to define tabs 25 disposed generally in the same horizontal plane.

A plurality of prongs are arranged to extend upwardly from the bracket top edge 15, all of which serve to pierce and support fabric. Some of the prongs 26 are positioned to support straight segments of fabric. Other prongs are arranged as pairs of adjacent prongs 27 spaced by a pre-determined distance to serve the dual purpose of piercing and supporting fabric and also aiding to form the corners of fabric pleats in a manner that will be described.

A group of separable hanger units 30 are shown removably coupled to the holding bar 11 and are aligned to project outwardly and forwardly from the holding bar 11. The hanger units 30 are coupled to the holding bar 11 at selected points or stations defined by the recesses 24. The desired pleating pattern may be modified by arranging hanger units 30 in all of the recesses 24 to constitute a fully pleated pattern or may be arranged to skip some recesses 24 to create a staggered or irregular pleating design.

Each hanger unit 30 has a front wall 31 shaped to assist in forming fabric pleats and a spike 32 extending upwardly from the top edge of the hanger unit 30 for the purpose of piercing and supporting the fabric. The spikes 32 are identical in geometry and construction to the prongs 26 and 27 of holding bar 11.

A piece of fabric 35 which may be buckram or burlap for example is shown in phantom lines covering approximately one-half of bracket 10. The fabric 35 is showing laying loosely in position but not secured to bracket 10. In practice the upper margin 36 of the fabric 35 would be reinforced or doubled over prior to attachment to the prongs 26 and 27 and spikes 32 in a manner that will be explained. When fully installed and hung the fabric 35, by reason of the special construction of bracket 10, will be formed with multiple pleats FIG. 2 shows important details and interrelationships of the primary components of the fabric hanging and pleating bracket 10. Holding bar ll has a zig-zag cross section and general overall stepped configuration. A pair of parallel retention slots 40 are formed entirely through intermediate strip 18 at points beneath and slightly inwardly of the corresponding pair of mutually adjacent prongs 27. The retention slots 40 are aligned perpendicular to holding bar corners 41 and 42 defined by the junctions of strips 12, 14 and 18.

The upper strip 14 is generally parallel to and offset both outwardly and forwardly from the lower strip 12 in a manner so that these two strips in part define a channel shaped space 43. When a piece of fabric is fully supported and hung then its upper margin may be conveniently tucked into the channel shaped space 43 5 and substantially hidden from view by upper strip 14. When the bracket 10 is securely installed against wall W by fastener elements 44, which may be screws or nails, etc., the adjacent part of wall W further defines the dimensions of channel shaped space 43.

Immediately beneath for forwardly extending tab 25 is a stop wall 45 which aids in seating the hanger unit 30. The stop wall 45 is defined by a section of the holding bar upper strip 14 that is disposed immediately beneath the recess 24. When the tab 25 is struck out from the plane of upper strip 14, a pair of abutment edges 46 and 47 are formed whose bases terminate at the top of stop wall 45.

The hanger unit 30 is of generally U shaped configuration and has a pair of side walls 48 and 49 whose outermost ends are joined by the front wall 31. Upper rearward portions of the side walls 48 and 49 form a pair of depending support hooks 50 and 51. The generally lower rearward portions of side walls 48 and 49 form a pair of shoulders 52 and 53 that are shaped and sized to engage the lower strip 12 when the components are fully interfitted. Support hooks 50 and 51 define a pair of locking slits 55 sized to slip over and interlock with the stop wall 45. The lower segments of support hooks 50 and 51 are oblong or rounded to facilitate slipping into corresponding retention slots 40. The depths of the locking slits 55 and the thickness of bend zones 57 are relatively sized so that when the stop wall 45 and slits 55 are interlocked, then the holding bar top edge 15 and the hanger unit top edge 59 will be at approximately the same level to form improved pleats and provide a generally overall neat appearance.

The side walls 48 and 49 and the front wall 31 form a central space 61 into which fabric margin material may be tucked and concealed for improved appearance purposes.

Referring primarily to FIG. 3, the hanger unit 30 is shown stably and removably coupled to the holding bar 11. In this position the support books 50 and 51 are interfitted with their retention slots 40 and stop wall 45 is interlocked with the locking slits 55. Fabric margin 36 is shown folded over the upper edges of the bracket 10 and hanger unit 30 and tucked into both the channel shaped space 43 and the central space 61.

After the fabric margin 36 has been drawn over spike 32, then the spike 32 is bent inwardly and downwardly as shown to further secure the fabric 35 in place and aid in maintaining the formed pleat P. Bunching and stacking of fabric material is avoided at one point due to the presence of recess 24 which permits the fabric to be stuffed and compressed into the rectangular spaced provided. If, for example, the tab 25 were not struck out, then it would cause interference with tucking the fabric into the channel shaped space 43 as well as into the central space 61. The horizontal position of forwardly extending tab 25 between the hanger unit side walls 48 and 49 acts as a spreader to further rigidify and help maintain the shape of the hanger unit'30.

FIG. 4 shows a piece of fabric 35 in phantom lines that has been laid against bracket 10 and drawn over the prongs 26 and 27 and spikes 32 so that portions of it may be formed into pleats P. The fabric margin 36 is shown tucked or stored in concealed relationship within the channel shaped space 43 and the central spaces 61. I

The holding bar H and the hanger units 30 are constructed from durable resilient material such as spring steel. Preferably the wings or side walls 48 and 49 of the hanger units 30 are aligned in slightly diverging relationship so that when ultimately'installed, they will exert a biasing force within their retention slots to augment the interlocking fit.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an upper fabric hanging and pleating bracket 70 is shown vertically spaced from and aligned parallel to a lower fabric hanging and pleating bracket 71. By way of example, brackets 70 and 71 are mounted adjacent to the upper and lower portions of a relatively large wall. A section of fabric 72 has an upper margin 73 drawn around and over the top'of upper bracket 70 and a lower margin 74 drawn around and beneath the bottom edge of lower bracket 71.

Upper bracket 70 has a holding bar 76 with prongs 77 and a number of hanger units 78 formed with spikes 79. The lower bracket 71 has a holding bar 82 and prongs 83 that are inverted relative to holding bar 76 and prongs 77. In a similar manner, lower bracket 71 has a pluraltiy of hanger units 84 with spikes 85 that are inverted relative to hanger unit 78 and spikes 79.

The directional arrow D indicatesthe illustrative direction in which a drapery or fabric hanging person would travel, i.e., from right to left, in order tosecure fabric 72 to and between the brackets 70 and 71. For purposes of explaining the invention, the fabric 72 is shown fully assembled to the right-hand parts of brackets 70 and 711, with the prongs and spikes bent inwardly while the left-hand parts of the brackets 70 and 71 are shown uncovered with their prongsand spikes aligned erect. Pleats P and P have been formed.

OPERATION Keeping the foregoing described construction of the invention in mind, it can now be understood how many of the problems with other fabric holding fixtures are overcome or substantially eliminated by this invention. The fabric hanging and pleating bracket is very versatile and can be used to create a broad variety of pleating patterns by varying the numbers and spatial relationships of the hanger units 30. The pleating patterns can be varied over a great range by selecting all of the potential pleat-forming points or stations or just certain combinations of the potential pleat-forming points constituted by the adjacent prongs 27 and recesses 24. For example, the decorator or other person may decide to use alternate or every third pleat-forming point.

ln fact, it may be desirable to effect a sheeting or flat pattern instead of a pleating pattern, in which case the holding bar 11 could be used independently and without any hanger units 30 at all.

Assuming that the decorator or installation person plans to install a fully pleated wall covering then, with reference to FIG. 5, upper bracket 70 and lower bracket 71 are arranged in place. In the case of especially long walls, a number of upper brackets 70 would be aligned in side-by-side relationship and a number of corresponding lower brackets 71 would likewise be mounted in side-by-side relationship with the upper hanger units 78 and lower hanger units 84 being vertically aligned so that vertical, rather than oblique or crooked, pleats can be formed. Preferably, the brackets 70 and 7B should be spaced approximately one inch from the ceiling and floor or other lower surface, respectively.

The upper margin 73 of fabric 72 is folded or doubled over to make an approximate 2-inch margin, and

then is sequentially drawn over the prongs 77 and spikes 7) to pierce and support the fabric. Thereafter, the prongs 77 and spikes 79 are bent inwardly and downwardly either manually or with a tool to better support and hold the fabric in place. The person may continue working from one side to the other, from right to left as indicated by directional D, until most of the fabric upper margin 73 is fully supported.

Thereafter, the fabric lower margin 74 is attached to the lower prongs 83 and spikes 85. The fabric 72 is pulled taut and then pierced or caught on the prongs 83 and spikes 85.

The excess materials of the upper margin 73 and lower margin 74 are tucked into their respective channel shaped spaces and central spaces.

With the fabric thus arranged in form-fitting relationship around consecutive hanger units and drawn taut between upper bracket and lower bracket 71, the fabric material between the upper margin 73 and lower margin 74 will form a series of attractive parallel pleats P P etc.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the present invention has provided a fabric-hanging and pleating bracket in which all of the various advantages are fully realized.

What is claimed is:

l. A fabric hanging and pleating bracket with sectional components, comprising:

a. an alongated holding bar including a lower strip with a bottom edge, an upper strip with a top edge offset outwardly and forwardly from the lower strip, and, an intermediate strip linking the lower strip and upper strip;

b. a plurality of prongs extending upwardly from the upper strip top edge for piercing and supporting fabric, a pair of adjacent prongs being spaced by a predetermined distance;

0. at least one separable hanger unit removably coupled to and aligned to project outwardly and forwardly from the holding bar at a position between said pair of adjacent prongs, the hanger unit having a front wall shaped to assist in forming a fabric pleat; and,

d. a spike extending upwardly from a top edge of the hanger unit for piercing and supporting fabric, wherein when fabric is laid generally against the holding bar and hanger unit and drawn over the prongs and spike, a section of the fabric will be formed into a pleat.

2. The structure according to claim 11, wherein:

the spike extends upwardly from the top edge of the front wall.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein;

the hanger unit is formed with at least one depending support hook looped over the top edge of the upper strip.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein;

the holding bar intermediate strip is formed with a retention slot sized to receive at least a portion of the hook.

5. The structure according to claim 1 wherein;

the hanger unit has a pair of side walls joined together by the pleat-formingfront wall, and, a pair of depending support hooks formed generally by upper rearward portions of the side walls, and,

the holding bar intermediate strip includes a pair of retention slots generally between said pair of adjacent prongs, sized to receive corresponding support hooks.

6. The structure according to claim 5 wherein;

a pair of rearwa'rdly extending shoulders is formed by the generally lower rearward portions of the hanger unit side walls, sized to engage the holding bar lower strip for stability purposes.

7. The structure according to claim 5 including:

a recess in the holding bar upper strip between said pair of adjacent prongs, the recess being sized to receive and generally position the hanger unit,

a forwardly extending tab secured to the upper strip just beneath the recess and positioned between the hanger unit side walls, and,

a pair of locking slits defined by the support hooks, the slits being slipped over and interlocked with a section of the hanger unit lower strip beneath the tab.

8. The structure according to claim 5 including:

a pair of locking slits defined by the support hooks,

a recess in the holding bar upper strip between said pair of adjacent prongs, the recess being sized to receive and generally position the hanger unit, and,

a stop wall for seating the hanger unit, defined by a section of the holding bar upper strip beneath the recess and positioned to slip into and be interlocked with the locking slits.

9. The structure according to claim 8 wherein;

the depths of the locking slits are sized so that when the stop wall and slits are interlocked the holding bar top edge and hanger unit top edge will be at approximately the same level to form improved pleats.

10. The structure according to claim 5 wherein;

the hanger unit side walls and front wall form a central space into which fabric margin material may be tucked and concealed for improved appearance purposes.

11. The structure according to claim 1 wherein;

the holding bar intermediate strip together with the upper strip form a channel shaped space into which fabric margin material may be tucked and concealed for improved appearance purposes, and,

a series of fastener holes are formed through the holding bar lower strip to aid in installing the bracket to a wall.

12. The structure according to claim 1 wherein;

said pair of adjacent prongs is spaced by a distance approximately equal to the width of the hanger unit front wall.

13. The structure according to claim 1 including:

a number of pairs of adjacent prongs;

a plurality of hanger units coupled to the holding bar and positioned between corresponding pairs of adjacent prongs; and,

fabric arranged to form a plurality of pleats equal to the plurality of hanger units.

14. The structure according to claim 13 including:

a second fabric hanging and pleating bracket with its holding bar and hanger units inverted relative to said holding bar and hanger units, the brackets being generally parallel and spaced from one another to hold opposite ends of the fabric therebetween in slightly stretched condition with a plurality of formed pleats.

15. The structure according'to claim 14, wherein:

at least some of the prongs and spikes are bent inwardly to assist in better supporting the fabric. 

1. A fabric hanging and pleating bracket with sectional components, comprising: a. an elongated holding bar including a lower strip with a bottom edge, an upper strip with a top edge offset outwardly and forwardly from the lower strip, and, an intermediate strip linking the lower strip and upper strip; b. a plurality of prongs extending upwardly from the upper strip top edge for piercing and supporting fabric, a pair of adjacent prongs being spaced by a predetermined distance; c. at least one separable hanger unit removably coupled to and aligned to project outwardly and forwardly from the holding bar at a position between said pair of adjacent prongs, the hanger unit having a front wall shaped to assist in forming a fabric pleat; and, d. a spike extending upwardly from a top edge of the hanger unit for piercing and supporting fabric, wherein when fabric is laid generally against the holding bar and hanger unit and drawn over the prongs and spike, a section of the fabric will be formed into a pleat.
 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein: the spike extends upwardly from the top edge of the front wall.
 3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; the hanger unit is formed with at least one depending support hook looped over the top edge of the upper strip.
 4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein; the holding bar intermediate strip is formed with a retention slot sized to receive at least a portion of the hook.
 5. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; the hanger unit has a pair of side walls joined together by the pleat-forming front wall, and, a pair of depending support hooks formed generally by upper rearward portions of the side walls, and, the holding bar intermediate strip includes a pair of retention slots generally between said pair of adjacent prongs, sized to receive corresponding support hooks.
 6. The structure according to claim 5 wherein; a pair of rearwardly extending shoulders is formed by the generally lower rearward portions of the hanger unit side walls, sized to engage the holding bar lower strip for stability purposes.
 7. The structure according to claim 5 including: a recess in the holding bar upper strip between said pair of adjacent prongs, the recess being sized to receive and generally position the hanger unit, a forwardly extending tab secured to the upper strip just beneath the recess and positioned between the hanger unit side walls, and, a pair of locking slits defined by the support hooks, the slits being slipped over and interlocked with a section of the hanger unit lower strip beneath the tab.
 8. The structure according to claim 5 including: a pair of locking slits defined by the support hooks, a recess in the holding bar upper strip between said pair of adjacent prongs, the recess being sized to receive and generally position the hanger unit, and, a stop wall for seating the hanger unit, defined by a section of the holding bar upper strip beneath the recess and positioned to slip into and be interlocked with the locking slits.
 9. The structure according to claim 8 wherein; the depths of the locking slits are sized so that when the stop wall and slits are interlocked the holding bar top edge and hanger unit top edge will be at approximately the same level to form improved pleats.
 10. The structure according to claim 5 wherein; the hanger unit side walls and front wall form a central space into which fabric margin material may be tucked and concealed for improved appearance purposes.
 11. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; the holding bar intermediate strip together with the upper strip form a channel shaped space into which fabric margin material may be tucked and concealed for improved appearance purposes, and, a series of fastener holes are formed through the holding bar lower strip to aid in installing the bracket to a wall.
 12. The structure according to claim 1 wherein; said pair of adjacent prongs is spaced by a distance approximately equal to the width of the hanger unit front wall.
 13. The structure according to claim 1 including: a number of pairs of adjacent prongs; a plurality of hanger units coupled to the holding bar and positioned between corresponding pairs of adjacent prongs; and, fabric arranged to form a plurality of pleats equal to the plurality of hanger units.
 14. The structure according to claim 13 including: a second fabric hanging and pleating bracket with its holding bar and hanger units inverted relative to said holding bar and hanger units, the brackets being generally parallel and spaced from one another to hold opposite ends of the fabric therebetween in slightly stretched condition with a plurality of formed pleats.
 15. The structure according to claim 14, wherein: at least some of the prongs and spikes are bent inwardly to assist in better supporting the fabric. 